Community practitioner : the journal of the Community Practitioners' & Health Visitors' Association
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Health visitors initiated and developed a men's health project in North Staffordshire, adopting a client involvement approach to provide men's 'health MOTs' for men in deprived areas. As the sessions were expanded to other areas of the trust, a consultation process with focus groups was used to identify local men's needs and suggestions. The themes to emerge were--men's fears around health, reducing health check fear and anxiety, female roles in health, suitable locations for men's health events, most desirable tests and advisors, and male-friendly written information. Issues around venue choice were a more significant factor than originally perceived, and the focus group findings have since informed many practical aspects of the men's health MOT sessions.
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Pregnant asylum-seeking women and those with young babies living in initial accommodation centres are a highly vulnerable group. The care that these women receive during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postnatal period can have a lifelong impact on them and their babies. ⋯ Analysis of consultations identified areas of concern--health needs, women in transition, access to services, access to resources and information, and working environment. Several recommendations are made, which constitute small changes in practice that could make large differences to the quality of life of women in this group.